Advice to parents and carers to support learning at home

Dear Parent/Carer

I would like to take this opportunity to update our community on the provision of work for those students not attending school currently due to COVID-19. Advice from DoE is that schools are safe and we encourage all students to attend unless they are sick. We do acknowledge that many families are deciding to keep children home to risk manage the COVID-19 situation and this will be reflected as explained absences in our system.

Currently our teachers focus is on supporting learning intentions for those students attending our school site. Our teachers will not be sending home paper based resources to support learners at home but will suggest online learning resources parents/carers can use with their children if they choose to keep them at home.

However in the event of a site closure our school will communicate with you all details of the closure. The communication will provide information on supporting learning for your child at home. We will continue to use our current communication channels.

• Class DoJo, email, Facebook, school website and letters home

Remote learning may occur in a variety of ways. Teachers may move some or all of your child’s learning into online spaces to ensure all students have access to their learning.

Supporting your child’s learning at home

We will communicate with you timetables and expectations. It is important to establish routines from the first day to keep your child connected and engaged with their learning. Some considerations:

• Set up a learning environment at home that is quiet and comfortable. It is not recommended that this space be in your child’s bedroom. Use a family space that can be quiet at times and has an adult present for monitoring of your child’s learning.
• Support your child to take regular food and drink breaks and to move around.
• Maintain morning and night routines. Structured days with regular mealtimes and bedtimes are an essential part of keeping children happy and healthy.
• Check in with your child during the day to keep them on track.
• Maintain regular contact with our school and teacher through established communication channels.

Online tools

It is advised that you do not buy new online programs from third party providers. Use programs that the school already have available.

Regards

Tim Nicholas 

Principal

The following 2 pages of this letter outline resources families can use to support children’s learning if they choose to keep them at home.

Additional Resources

Activities to support your child’s learning at home

There are many fun and exciting activities. These activities can stimulate children's curiosity and encourage their love of learning.

• Victoria Education – FUSE learning from home9
• ABC Education10
• Ideas to help with reading writing and maths11
• Resources – Everyday Maths12
• Scholastic learn at home13

Mathematics

• Maths at our house14
• Tiny Polka Dot15
• Eleven games and activities for parents to encourage maths in early learning16
• Everyday math activities kids can do at home17
• Everyday Maths Animations18
• NRich - Home of rich mathematics19
• Math for love - games20

Inquiry, online books and ideas for writing

• Wonderopolis21
• Storyline online22
• Magic blox23
• Literacy shed24

Science for thinking

• CSIRO Education25
• NASA Kids Club26

Wellbeing, mindfulness and meditation

• Move, play and go27
• Cosmic Kids Yoga28
• Smiling Minds29
• Go Noodle30

Managing behaviour online

Children should learn in a safe, supportive and respectful school community. This includes participating safely in technology-based learning and using technology responsibly. Even though your child is at home they still need to follow their school’s behaviour management policy.

Refer to the following:

• AFPS ICT user agreement
• Student behaviour Brochure6
• Conditions of Use Policy for all Users of Information and Communications Technology7
• Cyber Safety Resources8

1 https://canvas.education.tas.gov.au/

2 https://www.office.com/

3 https://www.education.tas.gov.au/canvas-resources/

4 https://www.education.tas.gov.au/students/student-it-resources/

5 https://www.education.tas.gov.au/students/student-it-resources/office365-faqs%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B/

6 https://documentcentre.education.tas.gov.au/Documents/Infosheet-TeachingLearning-Discipline.pdf

7 https://tasedu.sharepoint.com/sites/intranet/Document Centre/Conditions-of-use-Policy-for-all-users-of-information-and-communications-technology.pdf

8 https://www.education.tas.gov.au/parents-carers/cyber-safety-resources/

9 https://fuse.education.vic.gov.au/pages/learningfromhome

10 https://education.abc.net.au/home#!/home

11 https://parents.education.govt.nz/primary-school/learning-and-development-at-home/ideas-to-help-with-reading-writing-and-maths/

12 http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/classrooms/Pages/resourceseverydaymaths.aspx

13 https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html

14 https://nzmaths.co.nz/maths-our-house

15 https://tinypolkadot.com/

16 https://theconversation.com/eleven-games-and-activities-for-parents-to-encourage-maths-in-early-learning-76522

17 https://www.verywellfamily.com/everyday-home-math-activities-621043

18 https://fuse.education.vic.gov.au/ResourcePackage/LandingPage?ObjectId=7a9a8d7d-8b9e-4694-a86a-3f358d8c5bc6&SearchScope=All

19 https://nrich.maths.org/

20 https://mathforlove.com/lesson-plan/games/

21 http://wonderopolis.org/

22 https://www.storylineonline.net/

23 https://magicblox.com/

24 https://www.literacyshed.com/the-images-shed.html

25 https://www.csiro.au/en/Education

26 https://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub/index.html

27 https://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/mwew/families/move,_play_and_go

28 https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga

29 https://www.smilingmind.com.au/

30 https://www.gonoodle.com/